Guillermo del Toro leaves the Hobbit films for someone else

Wow. Director Guillermo del Toro has spent the past couple of years working on the next two installments in the LORD OF THE RINGS franchise, THE HOBBIT, and he even provided us with an update a few days ago HERE, but according to OneRing.net, he can't wait around any longer. Check it out and read the rest HERE.

“In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming “The Hobbit,” I am faced with the hardest decision of my life”, says Guillermo. “After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien’s Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures. I remain grateful to Peter, Fran and Philippa Boyens, New Line and Warner Brothers and to all my crew in New Zealand. I’ve been privileged to work in one of the greatest countries on earth with some of the best people ever in our craft and my life will be forever changed. The blessings have been plenty, but the mounting pressures of conflicting schedules have overwhelmed the time slot originally allocated for the project. Both as a co-writer and as a director, I wish the production nothing but the very best of luck and I will be first in line to see the finished product. I remain an ally to it and its makers, present and future, and fully support a smooth transition to a new director”.

Extra Tidbit:

Del Toro's dad was kidnapped in Mexico and held for seventy-two days until his ransom was paid in 1997.